Grammy-nominated artists Tate McRae and Sombr, along with actors Tyriq Withers and Malachi Barton, will be honored at Variety’s 2026 Power of Young Hollywood presented by Disney+, on Aug. 5 in Los Angeles. The annual event will recognize the best new and upcoming actors, musicians and artists who are taking the industry by storm.
McRae will receive the Triple Threat Award. The pop sensation has garnered over 20.8 billion overall streams, multiple No. 1 Top 40 hits and a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. She has received numerous accolades, including artist of the year at both the 2024 and 2025 JUNO Awards. Her honors also include two MTV VMAs, nominations for five Billboard Music Awards, multiple People’s Choice Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards, among others. Last year, McRae graced the worldwide cover of TIME100’s Next issue and received the Powerhouse Award at Variety Hitmakers. In 2021, she was included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, making her the youngest musician to be recognized.
McRae’s No. 1 RIAA certified five-times platinum single, “You Broke Me First,” has amassed over 2.5 billion streams since its release in 2020. Her debut album, “I Used to Think I Could Fly,” landed at No. 1 on Spotify’s Global Top Albums Debut Chart and reached the Top 10 in multiple countries. The Calgary native’s certified platinum sophomore album, “Think Later,” catapulted her into pop stardom. Released in 2023, the album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album chart and features her certified four-time platinum single “Greedy,” which earned the star a No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart, Global Excl. U.S. chart, Spotify’s Global chart and Top 40 radio. Last year, McRae released her highly anticipated third album, “So Close to What,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album features tracks “Revolving Door” and “It’s ok I’m ok,” both of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart. The star’s sold-out global “Miss Possessive” Arena Tour had over 80 dates and 1 million tickets sold.
Multiple award-winning, Grammy-nominated superstar Sombr, set to receive the Songwriter of the Year Award, has dominated global airwaves and charts since his 2025 breakthrough smash “Back to Friends.” The track was his first Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit (charting for 52 weeks), and reached No. 1 on Spotify’s Global and U.S. charts. That summer, he released his debut studio album “I Barely Know Her,” featuring the record-shattering hit alongside standout fan and critical favorites “Undressed” and “12 to 12,” each of which reached the Top 20 on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Hot 100.
Sombr entered 2026 with a best new artist Grammy nomination and an electrifying performance on the telecast, following a breakout year that included a best alternative win at the MTV VMAs, as well as appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Saturday Night Live.” He was nominated for two Brit Awards (best international artist and song), won three American Music Awards (breakthrough rock/ alternative artist, best rock/ alternative album and song) and four iHeart Awards (best alternative artist and album of the year, on the verge pop and alternative song). “Homewrecker” was his first single since his critically acclaimed debut album, marking his fifth entry on the Billboard Global 200, fourth on the Hot 100 and his highest first-week debut to date. His latest single, “My Body Isn’t Ready,” has become his fifth entry on the Hot 100 and sixth entry on the Global 200.
Withers’ first major role came during a standalone Season 3 episode of “Atlanta,” written and directed by Donald Glover. He soon followed up that appearance with roles in Hulu’s “Tell Me Lies” and Paramount+’s “The Game.” In the summer of 2025, he co-starred in the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” legacy sequel alongside Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Chase Sui Wonders, Camila Mendes and Jonah Hauer-King.
Shortly after, Withers headlined as a rising quarterback in Justin Tipping’s horror film, “Him,” for which he was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards. He then made his debut as a romantic lead, co-headlining the Colleen Hoover film “Reminders of Him” with Maika Monroe. He will be presented with the New Leading Man Award at the Aug. 5 event.
Barton is set to receive the Rising Star Award. He stars alongside the Jonas Brothers in Disney’s highly anticipated “Camp Rock 3,” premiering Aug. 13. This fall, he will also star in the upcoming Disney+ original supernatural series “Coven Academy.” Later this year, Barton will showcase his talents as both a singer and dancer, headlining the Worlds Collide Tour, performing in 49 arenas across the U.S., Canada and Mexico before continuing with 11 shows throughout the U.K. and Europe. In 2027, he will reprise his fan-favorite role as Victor in “Zombies 5: Secrets of the Sea.”
Barton began his career on the daytime soap opera “The Young and Restless” at age 6, before going on to star in Disney Channel’s “Stuck in the Middle” alongside Jenna Ortega and Ariana Greenblatt. He also has starred in several Disney Channel Original Movies, including “Under Wraps 1&2” and “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires,” which shattered franchise records and became Disney Channel’s most-watched original movie since 2020.
The party will spotlight this year’s Young Hollywood Impact Report, featuring standout young talent across acting, music and content creation, plus the New Leaders List celebrating rising professionals in entertainment.
In support of young standout talent, Neutrogena is the official skincare partner of Power of Young Hollywood. Neutrogena will debut its new Hydro Boost Rejuvenating Serum and Hydro Boost Hydrogel Eye Patches as part of an immersive guest experience at the awards ceremony.
Amazon Music will present a special live performance from acclaimed singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro. A show-stopping vocal talent with uncompromising vision, Sienna has rapidly become one of music’s most compelling new artists and is currently featured in Amazon Music’s Breakthrough developing artist program. Sienna’s highly anticipated debut album, “Visitor,” is out now.
“Over the last 10 years, Variety‘s Young Hollywood issue has celebrated everyone from Zendaya to Megan Thee Stallion, Maluma to Olivia Rodrigo. We are thrilled to add our latest cover stars — Tate McRae, Sombr and Tyriq Withers — to this prestigious roster,” said Ramin Setoodeh, Variety‘s co-editor-in-chief & co-president. “We look forward to celebrating them, our first-ever Young Hollywood digital cover star Malachi Barton, and our power list of rising talents at our party on Aug. 5.”
Disney+ is the presenting partner of this year’s party. Neutrogena is the official skincare partner. Cash App is a premier partner, Amazon Music is the official performance sponsor and Eternal Water is the official water partner.
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